Spessard Holland's legacy is celebrated by museum exhibit

Wednesday

Sep 12, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 29, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Holland was born in Bartow on July 10, 1892, to Benjamin Franklin and Virginia Spessard Holland. The Hollands moved to Bartow from Georgia in 1890. Spessard Holland's father opened an abstract and deed business in Bartow, while his mother was a teacher.

Holland, who was born and died in Bartow, served as a prosecutor, county judge, Florida senator, Florida governor and U.S. senator. Because of Holland's long career as an influential politician with local roots, the Polk County Historical Museum, in the historic Bartow Courthouse, is honoring him with an exhibition of photos, memorabilia and artifacts donated by Holland's family.

"The Mighty Oak of Polk County" exhibit is open until Oct. 27, and shows all aspects of Holland's life, from a gown he wore as an infant to the chair he sat in while a member of the U.S. Senate.

"He could be called the most influential public servant of the 20th century in Polk County," said Tom Muir, the curator of the Polk County Historical Museum. "He inspired the politicians who came after him, like Lawton Chiles."

Early Life

Holland was born in Bartow on July 10, 1892, to Benjamin Franklin and Virginia Spessard Holland. The Hollands moved to Bartow from Georgia in 1890. Spessard Holland's father opened an abstract and deed business in Bartow, while his mother was a teacher.

"After he graduated from the Summerlin Institute, he went to Emory (College) in Atlanta," Muir said. " Before (Spessard Holland) became a lawyer, he followed his mother as a teacher. He taught for four years in Georgia, and then went on to law school at the University of Florida."

While in Gainesville, Holland began to explore politics, becoming the first elected UF student body president and a member of the debate team. However, Holland wasn't tied to academics alone. He was a successful athlete at Emory and UF, playing track and field, football, basketball and baseball.

Muir said Holland's baseball skills were so outstanding that he was once offered a contract as a pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics.

"He turned it down, but that shows how good he was," Muir said.

After graduating from UF, Holland returned briefly to Bartow to work as a lawyer. However, soon after returning to his hometown, Holland left again to serve in World War I.

Military Service

"He volunteered for service in World War I in the Army Air Corps and was a gunner in an airplane," Muir said. "It's recorded that he shot down two airplanes."

Holland was commissioned as a second lietenant in the Coast Artillery Corps, where he was transferred to France and served in the brigade's JAG Corps as an assistant adjutant. However, he didn't stay there long before he requested a transfer to the 24th Flying Squadron.

In this role, Holland was responsible for gunning and acting as an aerial observer, gathering information and taking photographs in reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines. After his plane crash landed in a crater, Holland was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, complete with a citation signed by Gen. John J. Pershing. Holland was promoted to captain, and he resigned his commission in July 1919.

Politics call

After his resignation from the Army Air Corps, Holland returned to practice law in Bartow, this time, opening his own practice.

The practice would later become the internationally successful Holland and Knight law offices.

Not long after starting the practice, politics began to beckon Holland.

"He started out as a prosecutor and then was elected to county judge in Polk County," Muir said.

As a county judge, Holland talked down a lynch mob in Lakeland, Muir said.

"To do that, he had to have a level of courage to stand up to that crowd," Muir said. "In that situation, a mob rose up when a prisoner was being transferred to the county jail. (Holland) had (officers) bring out the militia."

In 1932, Holland was elected to the Florida Senate, where he served eight years.

"While he was in the Florida Senate, he was known for supporting the public schools," Muir said of Holland's legislation that raised teachers' pay and retirement benefits. "He helped get more books for schools, too."

Holland was also a supporter of worker's compensation, tax cuts and unemployment insurance. He was in strong opposition to the poll tax, which he helped repeal in 1937.

"He was a dedicated Florida servant in the Senate," Muir said.

Governor Holland

After a successful two terms as a Florida senator, Holland ran for governor of Florida. He was elected in 1940.

"I think he would be most proud of his time as governor in Tallahassee serving the people of Florida," Muir said of Holland's career.

The pictures displayed as part of the "Mighty Oak of Polk County" exhibit represent Holland's life from the 1940s until his death in 1971.

"The photos in the this exhibit are a nice representation of (Holland's) service to Florida," Muir said.

Some of his service to Florida as governor included the beginning of the teachers' retirement program and more stability for the financing of public schools. He also supported cigarette and gasoline taxes that reduced a $4 million debt in state budget and helped build more than 1,500 miles of highways.

Four-term Senator

In 1946, Holland was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he would serve four terms under five presidents.

While Holland was in Washington, D.C., he had the opportunity to interact with many presidents and other dignitaries.

The " "Mighty Oak of Polk County" exhibit includes programs from the funerals of President Dwight D. Eisenhour and President John F. Kennedy. There are also photos signed by former presidents, and there are pens on display Holland used to sign legislation.

"The memorabilia was donated by Holland's family, including his daughter, Ivanhoe Holland Cranie, who still lives in Bartow," Muir said of the exhibit, which also includes the top hat Holland wore at his inauguration to the U.S. Senate.

After four terms as a U.S. senator, Holland retired to his home on Broadway Avenue in Bartow in January 1971. He died of a heart attack on Nov. 6 of that year at the age of 79.

Holland's Legacy

Holland and his wife, Mary Spessard Holland, who he married in 1919, were integral parts of Polk County and the state of Florida.

"Bartow is the city of oaks and azaleas, and Spessard Holland would definitely be the city's mightiest oak, and that would make Mary the azalea," said Muir of the Hollands' importance to their community.

Holland, a Democrat, was deeply devoted to his community and the people of Florida, Muir said.

In fact, Holland's career influenced that of his U.S. Senate successor, Lawton Chiles, another Polk County native who later became governor.

"(Holland) was a product of his time," he said. "It was an era of power for the Southern Democrats."

Muir said he thinks visitors to the exhibit will be interested by the memorabilia from Holland's life.

"I think his early life as a decorated aviator and all-star athlete are interesting," he said. "I think people will connect to the things they see here about his life."

The "Mighty Oak of Polk County" exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free.

For details, call the Polk County Historical Museum at 863-534-4386.

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